figure out how to deploy smart grid technology. it is one of more than 130 smart grid projects in 44 states. the 300 homeowners are connected to the conventional grid. but are trying out added features. sort of like the first families to get digital cable. >> this is real similar to a pharmaceutical clinical trials effort but it is on electricity and consumer electronics. >> former austin city councilman runs the project with federal stimulus money with help from utilities, corporations and charitable foundations. washington has invested $3.4 billion to help develop smart grid technologies nationwide. the private sector has ponied up an additional $4.7 billion. >> when you say we are developing a smart grid that implies what we have is a dumb grid. is it dumb? >> when you have a mechanical grid of mechanical devices that have to be individually read and something goes wrong how do you find out about it? >> and that was a big part of the problem at the end of june when a swath of powerful thunderstorms spawned so-called windstorms t